Weston Priory

Weston Priory is the home of a community of Benedictine monks in Weston, Vermont. They are particularly known for the songs they have contributed to Roman Catholic worship over the past 30 years.

Overview

Weston Priory was founded by Abbott Leo A. Rudloff of Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem in 1953. The community founds their contemplative existence on the rule of Benedict and the Gospels. They are dedicated to peace and social justice, particularly in Latin America, and also to caring for the natural world. In the 1960s, they began writing their own music for use in their community prayer, a central feature of monastic life. They compose all of the music they use when they pray the monastic office and celebrate liturgy. Their music is well-known throughout the world, as it has become popular Catholic liturgical worship music.

The priory itself contains several gardens, livestock, and an art store, including pottery and other ceramics made by the monks.

Notable community members have included ceramic artist Brother Thomas (Thomas Bezanson) and Gregory Norbet, the composer of much of the community's earlier music. Author Tomie DePaola was briefly a member in 1956. [cite web
url= http://www.tomie.com/being_an_artist/tomie_says.html
accessdate= 2008-06-26
title= Tomie Says...
publisher= [http://Tomie.com/ Tomie.com] ]

Awards

The Congregation of Benedictine monks for their active involvement in the sanctuary movement for Guatemalans and Salvadorans in exile were awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in Sherborn MA in July 1992. [cite web
url= http://www.peaceabbey.org/awards/cocrecipientlist.html
title= The Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Recipients List ] ]

See also

* Contemporary Catholic liturgical music

References

External links

* [http://westonpriory.org/ Weston Priory]
* [http://www.gregorynorbet.org/ Gregory Norbert]